Communication Apprehension

Those who suffer from communication apprehension are individuals who are afraid to communicate with other individuals. Research suggests that the number of people with communication apprehension is quite significant, especially among children who have not yet entered secondary school. It is noted that, as time goes on, individuals become more confident and communication apprehension has a tendency to lessen with age. However, for some, communication apprehension is an issue that can extend into adulthood.

Often, communication apprehension is associated with fear and anxiety. This can be experienced by people who feel that they may have to speak or when they actually are requested to speak. The situation is of a mind-over-matter nature, where the individual experiencing the communication apprehension is worried internally about how his or her communication will be perceived by the recipient.

There are a number of factors that go into communication apprehension and its impact on the individual. If people feel that another person is superior or will judge them, it creates an issue in the level of anxiety experienced. A person's past also impacts the level of anxiety he or she may have in communicating. For instance, if an individual has had a negative experience associated with communicating freely, this may cause greater levels of anxiety when trying to communicate something similar or in a similar environment.

A form of communication apprehension is lack of communication skills and subsequently a lack of confidence. This is commonly known as stage fright. An individual in this case will shy away from speaking in public and will likely avoid scenarios where he or she needs to communicate extensively with others.

Communication apprehension is a widespread phenomenon that cuts across cultural lines. Among the many possible causes is fear of judgment and evaluation. Being in a unique situation can also be a cause of communication apprehension, as an individual may feel uncomfortable in his or her surroundings and unable to articulate appropriately. Other causes of communication anxiety are being unprepared and focusing on negative outcomes of a communication interaction. These causes are easily controlled by, respectively, preparing in advance for important communication interactions and being optimistic about potential outcomes of a situation.

Communication apprehension can lead to a number of serious consequences that should not be taken lightly. The fact that this creates varying degrees of anxiety for the individual can cause unhealthy levels of stress in both the physical and emotional sense, and that can have a negative impact on both the body and mind. Other consequences of this anxiety is that it can limit people in a number of areas of their lives, including their career prospects, advancement at school and social interactions with others.

To this effect, treating the issue is important for individuals so they can overcome these barriers and improve their communication skills. There are a number of ways to manage mild communication apprehension through the use of techniques. Focusing on the audience is a solid strategy to take the mental emphasis off of the individual and onto the recipient. This also demonstrates to the audience that the speaker is receptive to their responses and will assist in growing communication skills. It is always advised to overprepare when dealing with an episode of communication apprehension. It is proven that the more preparation an individual has done, the more confident he or she feels in a communication scenario. Staying positive is another important strategy for overcoming anxiety associated with communication. Positive thinking often leads to positive outcomes, which is important for successful communication interactions.

If an individual experiences communication apprehension at an advanced level, treatment may be required. There are a number of methods that can help people improve their abilities as communicators. One of these methods is called cognitive restructuring, which helps to identify the root cause of the anxiety. Another method, systematic desensitization, enables people to test their communication skills and experience the related anxiety in a safe environment. This will assist them in realizing that the communication does not have to lead to anxiety. Over time, a number of new strategies are being developed to assist individuals who suffer from communication apprehension.